Astronomical forcing and geochronological application of sedimentary cycles in the Mediterranean Pliocene-Pleistocene

By F.J. Hilgen

Abstract

A new, astronomically calibrated time scale is presented for the Mediterranean\ud
Pliocene based on the correlation of sedimentary cycles to astronomical curves which\ud
describe the quasi-periodic variations in the Earth's orbit during the last 5.5 Ma. These\ud
sedimentary cycles are found in a continuous deep-sea marl sequence emerged above\ud
present sea-level due to tectonic uplift. For this sequence, an integrated high-resolution\ud
magnetostratigraphy, (planktonic foraminiferal) biostratigraphy and lithostratigraphy is\ud
established which underlies the new time scale. This time scale differs substantially from\ud
more conventional time scales which rely entirely on K/Ar radiometric datin